Health Minister Abdulla Nazim has stated that the key factor when importing medicines to the Maldives is the quality of the medicine rather than the country in which it is produced.

The Minister made the remarks during a press briefing held at the President’s Office on Tuesday to provide updates on the work of the Ministry of Health.

He noted that high-quality medicines are not produced only in Europe, adding that countries such as India and Bangladesh also manufacture medicines that meet strong quality standards.

Minister Nazim also pointed out that many medicines used in Europe are manufactured in countries such as India and Pakistan. He stressed that the main concern for the Maldives is not the country of manufacture, but whether the medicine meets the required quality standards.

The Minister emphasised that ensuring access to quality medicines has always been a key policy priority. He said the Government has established strict regulatory procedures and policies to ensure that medicines imported into the Maldives comply with required standards.

Minister Nazim also highlighted plans to further strengthen the system used to verify the quality of medicines. He said the system will be enhanced once the new National Health Laboratory building is completed and equipped with modern facilities, enabling more comprehensive testing of medicines within the Maldives.

The Minister added that the Government remains focused on maintaining a robust system that ensures access to safe and high-quality medicines while continuing to strengthen the regulatory framework governing pharmaceutical imports.